Introduction
One of the most confusing aspects of Spanish grammar for English speakers involves understanding how to use infinitives after prepositions. While English often allows gerunds (the -ing form) after prepositions, Spanish consistently requires the infinitive form instead. This fundamental difference trips up countless learners, leading to common mistakes that can make your Spanish sound unnatural or incorrect. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the rules governing infinitives after prepositions, examine the most frequent errors English speakers make, and provide practical examples to help you master this important grammar concept.
Understanding Spanish Infinitives and Prepositions
What is an Infinitive in Spanish?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, the form you would find in a dictionary. In Spanish, infinitives always end in one of three ways: -ar, -er, or -ir. Examples include hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live). The infinitive is considered a noun in grammatical terms, which is crucial to understanding why it follows prepositions in Spanish.
Unlike English, where we often add -ing to create a gerund form after prepositions, Spanish maintains the infinitive form. This is a key distinction that separates Spanish grammar from English grammar and is often where learners encounter their first mistakes.
The Role of Prepositions
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun and other words in a sentence. Common Spanish prepositions include a (to/at), de (of/from), en (in/on), por (for/by), para (for/in order to), sin (without), and con (with). When a preposition is followed by a verb in Spanish, that verb must be in the infinitive form.
The Golden Rule: Infinitive After Prepositions
The Core Principle
The fundamental rule in Spanish is straightforward: whenever a preposition is directly followed by a verb, that verb must be in the infinitive form. This applies to virtually all prepositions in Spanish. Consider this comparison with English:
English: I am interested in learning Spanish. (gerund form)
Spanish: Estoy interesado en aprender español. (infinitive form)
Literal translation: I am interested in to learn Spanish.
While the literal English translation sounds awkward, this is the correct and only acceptable way to construct such sentences in Spanish. The preposition de, a, en, or any other requires the infinitive form that follows.
Common Spanish Mistakes with Infinitives After Prepositions
Mistake 1: Using Gerunds Instead of Infinitives
The most frequent error that English speakers make is using a gerund (the -ando or -iendo form) after a preposition instead of the infinitive. This mistake is understandable because English uses the gerund form after prepositions, but it is incorrect in Spanish.
Incorrect: Después de comiendo, fuimos al cine.
Correct: Después de comer, fuimos al cine.
Translation: After eating, we went to the movies.
In this example, many learners instinctively want to use comiendo (eating), just as they would in English. However, Spanish requires the infinitive form comer. The preposition después de (after) must be followed by an infinitive, never a gerund.
Mistake 2: Confusion with the Preposition “a”
The preposition a can be tricky because it serves multiple grammatical functions in Spanish. When a is used before a verb, it introduces an action that is about to happen, a purpose, or a sequence of actions. The critical rule remains: the verb after a must be in the infinitive form.
Incorrect: Voy a ir al parque mañana. (Actually, this is correct, but learners sometimes mistakenly conjugate the verb)
Incorrect version by mistake: Voy a iré al parque mañana.
Correct: Voy a ir al parque mañana.
Translation: I am going to go to the park tomorrow.
Another common error involves using a reflexive conjugated form instead of the infinitive:
Incorrect: Me atrevo a hablando con él.
Correct: Me atrevo a hablar con él.
Translation: I dare to speak with him.
Mistake 3: Forgetting About the Preposition “de”
The preposition de frequently precedes verbs, and learners sometimes forget to include it or misuse the verb form that follows. The infinitive is mandatory after de.
Incorrect: Terminé estudiando ayer. (missing the preposition)
Correct: Terminé de estudiar ayer.
Translation: I finished studying yesterday.
Another example with de:
Incorrect: Trato de concentrándome en el trabajo.
Correct: Trato de concentrarme en el trabajo.
Translation: I try to concentrate on the work.
Notice that even with reflexive verbs, the infinitive form is used after the preposition de, and the reflexive pronoun me attaches to the infinitive.
Mistake 4: Mishandling the Preposition “en”
While the preposition en typically precedes nouns meaning in or on, it can also precede verbs in certain contexts. When it does, the infinitive is required.
Incorrect: En llegando a casa, comí algo.
Correct: Al llegar a casa, comí algo.
Translation: Upon arriving home, I ate something.
Note: In modern Spanish, al (a + el) plus the infinitive is much more common than en plus the infinitive, though both are technically correct in some dialects.
Mistake 5: Prepositions with Compound Verbs
When dealing with prepositions followed by compound verbs or verbs with reflexive pronouns, learners sometimes place pronouns incorrectly or use the wrong verb form.
Incorrect: Insistió en que me levantara temprano. (This uses subjunctive instead of infinitive)
Correct: Insistió en levantarme temprano.
Translation: He insisted on waking me up early. (or getting up early)
In this case, the reflexive pronoun me attaches directly to the infinitive levantarme after the preposition en.
Specific Prepositions and Their Rules
Common Prepositions That Precede Infinitives
Certain prepositions are particularly common before verbs. Understanding their specific uses will help prevent mistakes:
A (to) – Used to express movement toward an action or to show sequence
Vamos a visitar el museo. (We are going to visit the museum.)
Se puso a llorar. (He/she began to cry.)
De (of/from) – Used after many verbs and expressions
Dejó de fumar. (He/she quit smoking.)
Trato de mejorar. (I try to improve.)
En (in/on) – Used to show engagement in an action (less common in modern Spanish)
Persiste en trabajar. (He/she persists in working.)
Por (for/by) – Often used to show the reason or agent of an action
Fue castigado por llegar tarde. (He/she was punished for arriving late.)
Para (for/in order to) – Expresses purpose or destination
Trabajo para vivir. (I work to live.)
Estudio para aprobar el examen. (I study in order to pass the exam.)
Sin (without) – Shows absence or negation of an action
Salió sin pagar la cuenta. (He/she left without paying the bill.)
Con (with) – Rarely used before verbs, but when it is, the infinitive is required
Con estudiar no es suficiente. (With studying is not enough. / Studying alone is not enough.)
Prepositions That Combine with Others
Some prepositions combine to create compound prepositions that also require the infinitive:
Después de (after)
Después de comer, descansamos. (After eating, we rested.)
Antes de (before)
Antes de salir, apagué las luces. (Before leaving, I turned off the lights.)
En vez de (instead of)
En vez de trabajar, jugó videojuegos. (Instead of working, he/she played video games.)
Alrededor de (around)
Alrededor de las tres, volvemos a empezar. (Around three, we start again.)
Practice Tips to Master Infinitives After Prepositions
Developing Awareness
The first step in correcting this error is developing conscious awareness of when you use prepositions before verbs. When you write or speak Spanish, pause and ask yourself whether you have included a preposition before a verb. If you have, double-check that the verb is in the infinitive form.
Creating Associations
Create mental associations between common prepositions and verbs that frequently follow them. For example, link después de (after) with the pattern of using the infinitive form. The more automatic these associations become, the less likely you are to make mistakes.
Reading and Listening
Expose yourself to authentic Spanish through reading books, articles, and watching films with Spanish subtitles. Pay special attention to how native speakers use prepositions before verbs. This passive exposure reinforces the correct patterns and makes them feel more natural over time.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of infinitives after prepositions is essential for achieving grammatical accuracy in Spanish. The rule is simple and consistent: every preposition that precedes a verb must be followed by the infinitive form, never a gerund or conjugated verb form. By understanding this fundamental principle, recognizing the most common mistakes English speakers make, and practicing with specific prepositions and their contexts, you can eliminate this source of errors from your Spanish writing and speech. Remember that fluency comes from repeated exposure and conscious practice, so make a habit of reviewing infinitive constructions whenever you encounter them in Spanish texts, and soon these patterns will become second nature.
